It was fitting that Fredy Montero snapped his MLS playoff scoring drought on the same night that the Vancouver Whitecaps earned their first-ever win in the post-season.
The Whitecaps cruised past the San Jose Earthquakes 5-0 in their knockout round match on Wednesday night. Montero opened the scoring for Vancouver, who secured a spot in the Western Conference semifinals against the Seattle Sounders.
Here are three thoughts from the game…
Montero demonstrates the importance of a clinical scorer
Ever since Camilo Sanvezzo left the Whitecaps for Mexican club Queretaro ahead of the 2014 season, Vancouver has been crying out for a lethal striker. Montero has provided consistent scoring throughout the 2017 campaign, and he delivered in another clutch match against San Jose.
Montero had not scored in 10 previous appearances in the playoffs, but that ended on Wednesday night. It was rather fitting, though, that the Colombian was rather isolated before the goal. The forward made a darting run to the back post when he noticed Kendall Waston was going to win the header off the free kick, timed his movement perfectly and got his head onto the ball for the opener.
The 30-year-old also played a vital role in the third goal. Montero’s powerful header forced a save from Earthquakes goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, which was eventually bundled in by Kendall Waston.
That is why forwards make the big bucks. Even when they’re not involved in the game, one strike can lead to endless plaudits, which Montero proved on Wednesday.
Marcel de Jong is the Whitecaps’ ideal left-back
When de Jong has started for Vancouver at left-back, he has usually stood out. That was the case again versus the Earthquakes.
While Jordan Harvey has been with the team for six years, de Jong offers more on both sides of the ball. The Canadian is more technically gifted when in possession, delivers better crosses and his one-on-one defending is superior to Harvey’s. There have been countless moments when Harvey has been caught out of position or beaten far too easily by an opposing winger. That did not occur in this game.
Having two attack-minded full-backs in de Jong and Jake Nerwinski may leave Vancouver exposed in some games, but they are strong defenders as well. If coach Carl Robinson wants to maximize his team’s potential, those two defenders should be in his lineup versus the Sounders.
Set pieces, set pieces, set pieces
The Whitecaps entered this match as one of the league leaders in goals off set pieces.
Surprise, surprise: Vancouver created their goals via set pieces.
The first and third goals were converted off separate corners and Cristian Techera doubled the lead with a scintillating free kick. San Jose’s marking in general was woeful, especially on Waston, who is the clear danger-man in those situations.
#Quakes74 can't defend set pieces at all. #VWFC have scored 2 goals from set pieces and 3rd from failed clearance of set piece. #VANvSJ https://t.co/zcj6J5S3kl
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonitoUSA) October 26, 2017
However, credit must be given to Techera and Yordy Reyna, who continually drew fouls from Anibal Godoy, Darwin Ceren and Florian Jungwirth in prime positions on the field. The Whitecaps duo was closed down in the first half, but once San Jose eased up, they exposed the open space.
The Sounders managed to restrict Reyna on Sept. 27, which nullified the Whitecaps’ attack in a 3-0 loss. Seattle has to try and replicate that plan, otherwise Vancouver will run rampant.
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